The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-08-24

ground, and was Just starting with il
toward the well when he was rudely
shaken by the collar, and heard voice
say: What are you doing here. I'll
teach you to set fires to burn up folks in
their beds, you black rascal"
"I-I-I never d-d-done it" said Gen
eral, his teeth chattering with the sha1-
ing and terror. "L-l-let me go!n lie
tried in vain to tear himself from the
powerful grasp Of his accuser.
"Tll let you go-to Jail, as soon as
there's a chance" replied the man, as he
pushed General into a small shed, and
closed the door.
There was but one window to the
shed, and that was near the roof, too
high for him to think of reaching. lie
flung himself against the door again and
again; but it had been securely fastened
on the outside.
"Sin an ignorance done conquer dis
time, sho' nufT," soliliquized General,
mournfully. lie felt that there was
small chance of his story being believed.
The pretty lady whom he had meant to
serve would think that he set the fire.
As the sound of the hurry and CON
fusion without increased, new fear
came to him. Perhaps the house would
burn down, and the shed would catch
fire, and he would be left to perish in the
flames. He shouted several times; but
his voice, if heard, was not needed. At
last, the more subdued tones and slower
movements indicated that all danger was
over.
Day was beginning to dawn when the
shed door was opened, and General was
summoned forth, to confront the crowd
of men and boys who had assembled at
the alarm.
Perhaps he ought to have looked-nobly
heroic and confident in the consciousness
of innocence; but candor compels the
admission that, as he stood there in his
ragged coat, the discouragement and
misery III his face and attitude might
have been mistaken for the evidence of
guilt
"Why, it's Nose Stubbs,s boyl" cx-
they was a low-down family; but.
didn't s'pose none of 'em would do such
thing"
"You all avoided a mighty narrer-
escape" said another, in tones which
General fancied had familiar harshness.
'If l hadn't "a seen the fire jest as did,
nothing wouldn't "a saved yer"
why, General, is tbs you?" ex-
claimed surprised voice 1t was the
pretty lady, who with others had just
advanced to look at the supposed in.
cendiary.
eyes, miss, that's the boy that set tho
fire." replied the former speaker.
'No, miss, please miss, l never done
it." pleaded the lad, as he met the dis
tressed, plying eyes of the lady. 90
was trying to stinguish it
"How came you here at that time o.
night?" demanded one of the men.
General looked at his accuser in con
fused, timid manner and made no reply.
The pretty lady saw that he wa
frightened, and stepping closer to him
said kindly: 81 don't believe you did it
General. You'll tell me the whole truth
will you not?'
Thus encouraged, and aided by man,
questions, General related the who'll
story of the night. When the narrative
was finished, the man who had been S,
loud in his accusations was missing. III
had said something about being in
hurry to get to his work, and had hur
ried away.
Generals tale was not at first received
with confidence by all his hearers. Som,
of them even doubted the possibility o
his getting into the gun; but that objec
tion was easily removed by his repeating
the manGuvre in the presence of wit
nesses The sudden disappearance o
his accuser, who was never seen again il
thai region, was another point in Iii
favor, and when the last suspicion wa
cleared away, General found himself tn
hero of the occasion.
lie was provided with a new suit o
clothes, and sent to school, where he wa
dilligent and faithful pupil.
The Stubs family have long ag
moved from their leaning cabin on tn
shore to neat and commodious cottag
on higher ground; and General, a
farmer, teacher and preacher, with spade
spelling book and sermon, is battlin
manfully against sin and ignoranc
among his people Youths Companion